BotFest 4 (25th April 2020)

[Ocracoke]

It is time for the next BotFest event!

Location
St. Lukes Church
Poulton
Wallasey
CH44 3BD

Date
25th April 2020

Time
11:00 - 17:00

This time, we are planning to split the robots off into 8 round robin heats if there is sufficient numbers with the top robot of that heat going through the quarter-finals and then a straight elimination from there. If there isn't enough robots to justify 8 heats, we'll revert back to the 4 heat system with the top two going through as normal. As always, there will be a all robot rumble as well.

This is primarily an Antweight event but if you wish to do a static display of your heavier class robots, please feel free to bring them with cradles and sharps protection where needed (there will be a dedicated space for Featherweights and heavier). We are also open to running Fleaweights and Nanoweights if anyone brings them. As before, we are running a slightly modified variant of the AWS ruleset (http://robotwars101.org/ants/rules.htm), those being:

2.a: All weight limits have a 5% variance as below. Robots that exceed the AWS weight limit but are within the BotFest limit will have a note applied to the technical check sheet but pass in this instance.
Antweight: 157.5g (Roller) / 236.25g (Walker)
Fleaweight: 78.75g (Roller) / 118.65g (Walker)
Nanoweight: 26.25g (Roller) / 39.9g (Walker)

2.b: All size limits have a 5% variance, so the dimension cubed that your robot must into is below. Robots that exceed the AWS weight limit but are within the BotFest limit will have a note applied to the technical check sheet but pass in this instance.
Antweight: 106.68mm
Fleaweight: 80.01mm
Nanoweight: 63mm

4.a: All heat matches will last 2 minutes. All other matches (except the All Robot Rumble and Side events) will last 3 minutes. The All Robot Rumble will last until one robot remains mobile. Side event runtime are determined on the day.

5.k A team is permitted to enter up to 3 robots of either a roller or walker.

Event signup is here: http://antlog.garya.org.uk/event/26

Hope to see you there!

[Bad Wolf]

Cant wait for the event

Bad Wolf

[voyanuitoa]

Looking forward to taking part in my first proper Antweight event.

[Ocracoke]

Excellent, glad to hear the event is being looking forwards to! With any luck, I will have the arena's floor lifted up a little over the weekend and the pit floor painted.

[Mr Manuva27]

Will there be a deadline for signups? I may see if I can get an antweight together for this!

[Ocracoke]

Nope, no deadline really. Signups are open up until the event starts.

[Bad Wolf]

Excellent, glad to hear the event is being looking forwards to! With any luck, I will have the arena's floor lifted up a little over the weekend and the pit floor painted.

Yeah im excited to hopefully have some new bots sorted by then too! I have a couple of those strip LED lights if you need them, they plug into the mains they arnt battery though.

Bad Wolf

[Ocracoke]

We'll see closer to the time. Had a bit of a setback here which means I can't work on it this weekend. It'll happen.

[Ocracoke]

Hello everyone,

With the advent of Covid-19 and recent government messages, I am sorry to announce that I'll have to suspend BotFest 4 until such a time as when it is deemed safe to resume and I cannot make any accurate speculation as to when that might be. Like the Beetle Brawl, I'll be reviewing the situation at the start of April and proceeding from there but I cannot, at the moment, see a situation in which it may resume until June at the earliest (and that is assuming things change in that time, it is very likely to be longer.)

As with all events, the priority is safety for everyone involved. Once it is deemed to be safe, I'll update the thread with new information.

[Bad Wolf]

Such a shame but totally understandable with the current climate we are all in. Good Call

Bad Wolf

[Ocracoke]

So I've had a look at the updated legislation from the government and it looks as if gatherings of up to 30 people are permitted these days subject to appropriate measures. Since the Church has more internal area to space out in, my initial thought is that BotFest 4 will be hosted there with several limitations applied to it such as single person teams potentially, will need to think on it.

If it is possible, how does earlyish September sound for everyone?

[voyanuitoa]

Sounds good, one question I do have (although it doesn't apply to me directly), what does the single person teams rule mean for clusterbots? Will one person have to drive both or will special dispensations be made?

[James Williams]

If it is possible, how does earlyish September sound for everyone?

Yes, please!!! Regarding clusters, it wouldn't be difficult for one person to bind their TX to another's cluster whilst maintaining 2m apart, as long as the owner of the clusters is the only one who touches them physically. Personally though I won't bring my cluster this time anyway & there's only 1 other cluster that I can think of.

[Mr Manuva27]

Absolutely count me in! I've mentioned it in the OOTA discord and Scarrosaki asked me to say he's up for it too. Also quite a bit of interest from a few newcomers as well, which is nice.

[McMullet]

Sounds great! Hopefully we'll even be able to extract Simon from the Leicester plague by then.